Michael Keaton

“Unless you're flat out dead, you have to think of some other questions like: What's on the other side? It brings up issues of God, or no God." - Michael Keaton

Younger readers of AM might know Michael Keaton as… um, well, actually, they probably have no clue who the guy is. But back in the day, this versatile actor was one of Hollywood’s busiest leading men, garnering high profile credits in seminal comedies like Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice. Still not ringing a bell? Keaton was also the original Batman back in the eponymous 1989 Tim Burton film. Still nothing? Those of us over age 25 are utterly offended.

MAGNETISM

When an actor like Brad Pitt walks into a room, all conversation basically stops. But when a guy like Michael Keaton walks in, the conversation becomes peppered with phrases like “Is that my Uncle Lenny?” or “When is Brad Pitt coming?” He’s a rare success in Tinseltown -- he isn’t a chiseled action hero or a strong chinned matinee idol, but still boasts an unbelievable resume on IMDB. And your mom probably swooned just a little when she saw him in his Batman costume. We apologize for that image.

SUCCESS

Okay, here’s a surprising fact: Michael Keaton’s movies have grossed just under two billion dollars at the box office. That puts him on par with stars like Will Ferrell and Matthew Broderick. Then consider that a majority of his films came out when movie tickets weren’t $15, and you can begin to appreciate just how big of a success Keaton was in his prime.

Michael Keaton Biography

You look at some stars in movies these days and have to ask yourself why they ever decided to get into acting. Now, it’s a bit of a stretch to rank Michael Keaton up with 4-foot nothing Danny DeVito or penis-nosed Owen Wilson, but the guy surely isn’t your typical big screen star.

Michael Keaton comes from a big Catholic family and was raised in the rust belt area of Pennsylvania. As the youngest of seven children, Keaton relied on his funny side to garner attention. He tried to parlay that into a stand up comedy career, but the dingy chuckle huts of Pittsburgh are a long way from the talent-packed comedy clubs in L.A.

michael keaton on mr. roger's neighborhood

Determined to stay in the entertainment business in any way possible, Keaton took odd jobs at the public television station in Pittsburgh. There, he worked as a production assistant on a little show called Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, eventually pestering the suits until they let him appear in a few episodes as one of the “Flying Zucchini Brothers.”

Somehow motivated by that random gig, Keaton moved to L.A. and knocked out small roles in TV shows like Mary Tyler Moore and Maude. But lacking the bulging pecks or razor-sharp cheekbones that so many of his colleagues sported, Keaton struggled to get steady work.

michael keaton and night shift

His first break came a few years later, courtesy of the former "Richy Cunningham" (Ron Howard). The former Happy Days star gave Michael Keaton a bit part in his morgue-based comedy Night Shift. The comedic Keaton stole every scene he was in, and lead roles in hilarious classics like Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously and Gung Ho followed.

His status as a leading man in formulaic comedies cemented, Michael Keaton was eager to break into more challenging roles. When Tim Burton chose him to play Batman in his 1989 big screen adaptation of the comic legend, Keaton certainly got that challenging role. He also got sacks and sacks of hate mail from obsessive fans horrified that he would tarnish the reputation of the Dark Knight.

michael keaton and batman

Turns out, those fanboys had nothing to worry about as Michael Keaton played the dark, tortured hero with the perfect blend of swagger and pain. Keaton returned for the sequel, but left the franchise before the third film when Warner Bros. fired Tim Burton. Rumors persist that Keaton even turned down $35 million to appear in it, bringing new meaning to loyalty to your friends.

Perhaps typecast by his turn as Batman or blacklisted for refusing to play ball, Keaton struggled in the '90s. His resume features forgettable clunkers like Pacific Heights (what?) and Multiplicity. (Has anyone, anyone, actually seen this?)

With a bank account in the tens of millions, Keaton didn’t really have to sweat it. He bided his time, appearing in small vanity projects including a short film for Tenacious D, directed a movie no one saw (2008’s Merry Gentlemen) and rode horses and fly-fished on his California ranch. Now that’s unemployment!

michael keaton and toy story 3

You won’t be seeing Michael Keaton anytime soon, but you’ll certainly be hearing his voice. He is set to provide vocals for the upcoming Pixar sequel Toy Story 3. That movie will undoubtedly make hundreds of millions, adding to the already impressive haul of this unconventional, but undeniably charismatic, Hollywood legend.